Author Topic: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please  (Read 2214 times)

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Offline Poostar

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Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 17:43:24 »
I am really leaning towards a WASD TKL keyboard with blue switches. 150$. Also considering the CM Quickfire due to the price being a little cheaper. Any pros or cons i should know about either one? Any other brands i should be considering?

I currently am using a RGB K70 by corsair with red switches but i really dont care for them and am looking to trade it for a RGB K70 with browns.

Thanks ahead for any info, new to this community but i really enjoy geekhack so far

Offline DrHubblePhD

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 17:46:15 »
I am really leaning towards a WASD TKL keyboard with blue switches. 150$. Also considering the CM Quickfire due to the price being a little cheaper. Any pros or cons i should know about either one? Any other brands i should be considering?

I currently am using a RGB K70 by corsair with red switches but i really dont care for them and am looking to trade it for a RGB K70 with browns.

Thanks ahead for any info, new to this community but i really enjoy geekhack so far

Both are great boards for starting out! all I would say is that if you plan to do any gaming blues are not a good choice, also I would go with the cheaper one so that you can leave some space in your budget for some new caps in the future!

Offline rowdy

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 18:07:36 »
Quickfire Rapid?  Excellent board - I have two of them.

Also consider a Ducky - the Ducky Zero is without backlighting if it is not to your taste.

The KUL ES-87 is also said to be very good.

For most of these you can find user reviews in the reviews area.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline hwood34

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 18:08:16 »
KUL (keyed up labs) are some of the best mid range stock boards you can buy for the money. Also look into filco
IV KWK Info Thread & KBK Info Thread IV (out of date)

Old GBs: Gateron Switches (2015) | CF-LX R1 (2015) | CF-LX R2 (2017) | CF-LXXX (2017) | Gen.s Gem Caps (2015)

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Offline Hypersphere

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 18:56:28 »
Cherry mx switches are my least favorite, but in this line of keyboards, I prefer boards with Costar-type stabilizers over Cherry stabilizers. This is because, to me at least, the Costar-type stabilizers provide a crisp and even response in the stabilized keys, whereas Cherry stabilizers then to make these keys feel mushy. Keyboards that use Costar-type stabilizers include some in the CM lineup along with Filco and WASD Keyboards. I have a WASD V2 87 Barebones with mx Browns; it is a good board, and the customer service at WASD is terrific.

Offline DefeatedSky

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 19:02:23 »
After buying my Filco its hard for me to recommend anything else. Only reason I would recommend something different is if they really wanted backlighting. Go for the beige version and trick kit out. (Might be hard to find w/ blue switches though.)
Ninja Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless

Offline rowdy

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 19:03:58 »
Filco are generally excellent (albeit with non-removable cable), but they do come at a premium.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Defect

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 19:04:31 »
Backlit = Ducky Shine 3
Not = Filco, KUL.  Or still Shine 3.

Budget = Quickfire Stealth.  65 bucks NEW on Massdrop.  I'm sure you cab get used for 40-50

Not pictured: KeyCool 84 [MX Red] | Focus 2001 [Complicated White Alps]
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 19:06:59 »
CODE is another option if you want backlit, but seems to be available only with MX clear or green.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Hogesyx

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 23:20:15 »
I am really leaning towards a WASD TKL keyboard with blue switches. 150$. Also considering the CM Quickfire due to the price being a little cheaper. Any pros or cons i should know about either one? Any other brands i should be considering?

I currently am using a RGB K70 by corsair with red switches but i really dont care for them and am looking to trade it for a RGB K70 with browns.

Thanks ahead for any info, new to this community but i really enjoy geekhack so far

There is also the Novatouch if you are interested in testing out Topre.
Novatouch TKL | Ducky YOTR (Brown) | Ducky Shine (Brown)
Poker II (Red) | GH60 revchn (Clear)

Offline Poostar

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 21 December 2014, 23:26:24 »
I like the cherry mx over topre. I also really like white back lighting. Just trying to make sure i am not getting ripped by going with a WASD keyboard. Any clue on how long they take to be shipped after ordering?

Offline JDorfler

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 23 December 2014, 01:42:53 »
You really can't go wrong with the WASD.  They make great keyboards.  I have three of them and everyone on my company uses them.

Offline Poostar

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 24 December 2014, 11:17:15 »
Decided to go with the WASD. Thank you everyone for your input! Anyone have a clue how long they usually tale to ship?

Offline hwood34

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 24 December 2014, 11:42:29 »
Decided to go with the WASD. Thank you everyone for your input! Anyone have a clue how long they usually tale to ship?
As long as you don't order a custom set, they ship pretty quickly
IV KWK Info Thread & KBK Info Thread IV (out of date)

Old GBs: Gateron Switches (2015) | CF-LX R1 (2015) | CF-LX R2 (2017) | CF-LXXX (2017) | Gen.s Gem Caps (2015)

"Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary"

Offline Poostar

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 24 December 2014, 18:14:08 »
I got different color keycaps but i didn't have anything printed on to them

Offline JDorfler

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 25 December 2014, 02:30:15 »
You should enjoy your purchase.  Mind letting us know what set up you got?   What switches, key colors and such?  Just curious.

Offline Poostar

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Re: Buying my first TKL Keyboard. Opinions please
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 26 December 2014, 08:20:05 »
Blue switches on the 87 key version WASD v2 key caps i went with a light shade of gray for the alphanumerical, and a dark shade of grey for all the surrounding keys